It’s almost time for the Summer Olympics in Paris, France and the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team is gearing up for their run at another gold medal.
Head Coach Steve Kerr reflect and eluded that if other countries are improving, the U.S. must also find ways to advance.
“Maybe we’ll show that one to the guys,” Kerr said. “I love that. And it has to be our attitude this summer.”
After extensive planning, the U.S. Olympic team, aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Games, is set to begin training in Sin City.
The first practice is on Saturday, marking the start of a four-day training camp before their exhibition opener against Canada on Wednesday.
Hear me out, team Canada has a crew and they should not be taken lightly.
Players began arriving in Las Vegas on Thursday, with Stephen Curry being the first to check in, highlighting his eagerness for his Olympic debut. Although the 12 players are familiar with each other, the process of becoming a cohesive team starts in earnest on Saturday.
“I feel like it starts when it gets there, because that’s when you really see each other eye-to-eye,” said Bam Adebayo, who is pursuing his second gold medal after winning in Tokyo three years ago.
“You have those conversations, you have those many conversations within what we’re going through, what we’re trying to do. And that’s when it’s time to really be honest about what we want to do.”
ICYMI, last year’s World Cup was another humbling experience for the U.S.; after finishing seventh in 2019, they placed fourth in Manila.
The explanation for these stumbles was that the U.S. wasn’t fielding the best possible roster for those tournaments.
While securing big names like Kevin Durant and LeBron James for the Olympics is one thing, getting them to commit to the World Cup in back-to-back summers is another.
This team has been assembled with a different outcome in mind. James returns to the Olympic team for the first time since 2012, seeking his third gold, and Durant aims for a record fourth basketball gold.
Five other players—Adebayo, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Davis—each have one gold. The first-time Olympians include Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Curry, Kawhi Leonard, and Joel Embiid, whom the U.S. persuaded to play despite France’s efforts to have the Philadelphia star represent the host nation in Paris.
Good luck team USA.
The post USA Men’s Olympic Team Arrives Vegas for Training Camp first appeared on The Source.
The post USA Men’s Olympic Team Arrives Vegas for Training Camp appeared first on The Source.